firststeps command

The firststeps command starts the First steps console. The First steps console is a post-installation ease-of-use tool for directing WebSphere Application Server Network Deployment elements from one place. Options display dynamically on the First steps console, depending on features that you install and the availability of certain elements on a particular operating system platform. Options include verifying the installation, starting and stopping deployment manager and application server processes, creating profiles, accessing the administrative console, launching the Migration wizard, accessing the online information center, and accessing the Samples gallery.

First steps overview

The First steps console for the Network Deployment product has several forms. A First steps console exists for the product itself.

This version lets you start the Profile creation wizard to get started defining a deployment manager and application servers for the cell. You can also define stand-alone application servers. Each profile has its own First steps console.

A prompt to launch the First steps console displays on the last panel of the Profile Creation wizard.

You can also start the First steps console from the command line as described later in this topic.

[Linux] [Windows] Note: First steps might not launch in the Mozilla Firefox browser if the installation path of the browser contains spaces or special characters. You can either reinstall the Mozilla Firefox browser to an installation path without spaces or special characters or specify a different default browser before launching First steps.
In addition to the generic First steps console for the Network Deployment product, other First steps consoles exist for the deployment manager profile, the standalone application server profile, and the custom profile. Options that display on each First steps console are shown in the following table:
Table 1. Available options for Network Deployment
Option Product Profiles
Deployment Manager Stand-Alone Application Server Custom
Installation verification No Yes Yes No
Start and stop the deployment manager No Yes No No
Start and stop the server No No Yes No
Administrative console No Yes (if available) Yes (if available) No
Profile Creation wizard Yes (if available) Yes (if available) Yes (if available) Yes (if available)
Samples gallery (when feature exists) No No Yes No
Information center Yes Yes Yes Yes
Migration wizard No Yes (if available) Yes (if available) Yes (if available)
Exit Yes Yes Yes Yes

Option descriptions

Installation verification
This option starts the installation verification test. The test consists of starting and monitoring the deployment manager or the stand-alone application server during its start up.

If this is the first time that you have used the First steps console since creating a deployment manager or stand-alone application server profile, click Installation verification to verify your installation. The verification process starts the deployment manager or the application server.

The Start the deployment manager option or the Start the application server option is unavailable while the IVT runs.

The IVT provides the following useful information about the deployment manager or the application server:
  • The name of the server process: dmgr or server1
  • The name of the profile
  • The profile path, which is the file path and the name of the profile
  • The type of profile: dmgr or default
  • The cell name
  • The node name
  • The current encoding
  • The port number for the administrative console, which is 9060 by default
  • Various informational messages that include the location of the SystemOut.log file and how many errors are listed within the file
  • A completion message

Start the deployment manager
This option toggles to Stop the deployment manager when the deployment manager runs.

This option displays when the First steps console is in a deployment manager profile.

After selecting the Start the deployment manager option, an output screen displays with status messages. The success message informs you that the deployment manager is open for e-business. Then the menu item changes to Stop the deployment manager.

If you select the Start the deployment manager option, the Installation verification option is unavailable while the deployment manager runs.

Start the server
This option toggles to Stop the server when the application server runs.

This option displays when the First steps console is in a stand-alone application server profile.

After selecting the Start the server option, an output screen displays with status messages. The success message informs you that the server is open for e-business. Then the menu item toggles to Stop the server and both the Administrative console option and the Samples gallery option enable.

If you select the Start the server option, the Installation verification option is unavailable while the application server runs.

Administrative console
This option is unavailable until the application server or deployment manager runs.

The administrative console is a configuration editor that runs in one of the supported Web browsers. The administrative console lets you work with XML configuration files for the stand-alone application server or the deployment manager and all of the application servers that are in the cell.

To launch the administrative console, click Administrative console or point your browser to http://localhost:9060/ibm/console. Substitute the host name for localhost if the address does not load. Verify the installation to verify the administrative console port number, if 9060 does not load.

The administrative console prompts for a login name. This is not a security item, but merely a tag to identify configuration changes that you make during the session. Secure signon is also available when administrative security is enabled.

Profile Creation wizard
This option starts the Profile Creation wizard. The wizard creates stand-alone application server profiles, a deployment manager profile, or a custom profile.

A profile consists of files that define the run-time environment for the deployment manager or the application server.

Each profile has its own administrative interface. A custom profile is an exception. A custom profile is an empty node that federates into a deployment manager cell and customize. No default server processes or applications are created for a custom profile.

Each profile also has its own First steps console. The location of the command is within the profile as described later in this topic.

Samples gallery
This option starts the Samples gallery. The option is unavailable until you start the application server. The option displays when you have installed the Samples during installation.

The typical installation includes the Samples by default.

To launch the Samples gallery, click Samples gallery or point your browser to http://localhost:9080/WSsamples. The Web address is case sensitive.

Substitute your own host name and default host port number if the address does not load. Verify the port number by opening the administrative console and clicking Servers > Application servers > server_name > [Communications] Ports. Use the WC_defaulthost port number value or the WC_defaulthost_secure value instead of 9080, which is the default.

If you do not install the Samples during the initial installation of the product, the option does not display on the First steps console. You can perform an incremental installation to add the Samples feature. After adding the Samples, the option displays on the First steps console.

Information center for WebSphere Application Server
This option links you to the online information center at http://publib.boulder.ibm.com/infocenter/wasinfo/v6r0/index.jsp.
Migration wizard
This option starts the Migration wizard, which is the graphical interface to the migration tools.

The migration tools are described in WASPreUpgrade command and WASPostUpgrade command.

See Using the Migration wizard for more information about the Migration wizard.

Exit
This option closes the First steps console.

Location of the command file

[AIX HP-UX Linux Solaris Windows] The location of the firststeps command that starts the First steps console for a profile is:
[AIX HP-UX Linux Solaris Windows] The location of the firststeps command that starts the generic First steps console for the product is:

Parameters

No parameters are associated with this command.

Syntax for the firststeps command

Use the following syntax for the command:
  • [AIX] [HP-UX] [Linux] [Solaris] ./firststeps.sh
  • [Windows] firststeps.bat

Link tips

The following links exist on the First steps console for the WebSphere Application Server Network Deployment product:

Network Deployment provides different types of profiles. Not all profiles have all of the links shown in the table. See the previous description of available options for each profile.

Option Link
Installation verification Calls the ivt command.
The location of the installation verification test command is:
Start the server Calls the startServer command.
The location of the startServer command is:

When you have more than one application server on the same machine, the command starts the same application server that is associated with the First steps console.

Stop the server Calls the stopServer command.
The location of the stopServer command is:
Start the deployment manager Calls the startManager command.
The location of the startManager command is:

When you have more than one deployment manager on the same machine, the command starts the same deployment manager that is associated with the First steps console.

Stop the deployment manager Calls the stopManager command.
The location of the stopManager command is:
Administrative console Opens the default browser to the http://localhost:9060/ibm/console Web address.

When you have more than one application server on the same machine, the port varies. The First steps console starts the administrative console that is associated with the First steps console.

Profile Creation wizard
The command is in the app_server_root/bin/ProfileCreator directory. The name of the command varies per platform according to this pattern, pctplatform:
  • [AIX] pctAIX.bin
  • [HP-UX] 64-bit kernels: pctAIXPPC64.bin
  • [HP-UX] pctHPUX.bin
  • [HP-UX] 64-bit Intel® architecture (IA64) kernels: pctHPUXIA64.bin
  • [Linux] pctLinux.bin
  • [Linux] 31-bit compatibility mode on 64-bit zSeries® kernels: pctLinux390.bin
  • [Linux] 64-bit exploitation mode on 64-bit zSeries kernels: pctLinux390z.bin
  • [Linux] Power platforms: pctLinuxPPC.bin
  • [Linux] 64-bit IA64 kernels: pctLinuxIA64.exe
  • [Solaris] pctSolaris.bin
  • [Windows] pctWindows.exe
  • [Windows] 64-bit IA kernels: pctWindowsIA64.exe
Samples gallery Opens the default browser to the http://localhost:9080/WSsamples Web address.
Information center for WebSphere Application Server products Opens the default browser to the online information center:

http://publib.boulder.ibm.com/infocenter/wasinfo/v6r0/index.jsp

Migration wizard Calls the migration command to start the Migration wizard.
The location of the migration command is:

The migration tools are also in the /migration folder on the product disc.




Related information
Configuring the product after installation
Using the installation verification tools
Using the Migration wizard
Creating profiles using the graphical user interface
Reference topic    

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Last updated: Sep 20, 2010 11:08:29 PM CDT
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